Senate Resolution 50

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MU XI CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, we join the members of Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at The University of Southern Mississippi in congratulating them on their 45th Anniversary of dedicated services to their fraternity, their community and to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African-American men. The fraternity was founded on December 4, 1906, on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Alpha Phi Alpha has initiated over 300,000 men into its organization and has been accessible to men of all races since 1945; and

WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha has evolved into primarily a service organization, providing both leadership and service during some of the most integral moments in history, such as the Great Depression, both World Wars, and the Civil Rights Movement. This fraternity not only addresses social issues plaguing our communities such as apartheid, AIDS, urban housing, economic, cultural, and political issues, but it seeks to lighten the burden of these issues on our communities of color; and

WHEREAS, in 1975, Brother Mance Langham, serving at the time as Principal of Eureka Elementary School, and Brother Charles Johnson, serving as Director of Head Start, along with Alpha Phi Alpha, chartered the Mu Gamma Lambda Alumni Chapter in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Both Brother Langham and Brother Johnson went on to be not only founders but Presidents of this illustrious chapter. These two individuals, along with Brothers Alphonso Clark and Howard Jones, decided the brothers of the Mu Gamma Lambda Chapter should apply for an undergraduate Metropolitan Chapter slated for Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1976, an organization named The Seven Jewels Study Club was established on The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) campus. It was comprised of African-American students whose purpose was to promote scholarship and the spirit of Alpha Phi Alpha. That same year, the National Office granted Mu Xi a Metropolitan Chapter, encompassing students from USM, William Carey College and surrounding junior colleges, who were at least sophomores, and had a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average; and

WHEREAS, on November 6, 1976, Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity initiated 16 charter members, all of whom were undergraduate students at The University of Southern Mississippi. Initiated into the fraternity, better known as "The Untouchable 16" were: Brian Acker of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; Jerrle Barksdale of Biloxi, Mississippi; Jimmy R. Bridges of Silver Creek, Mississippi; Larry D. Carey of Jackson, Mississippi; Lavern Dillion of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Reverend Kenneth Fairley of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Michael Gilner of Gulfport, Mississippi (Deceased); Charles Goldsmith of Moss Point, Mississippi; Wille B. Hinton of Carson, Mississippi; Robert L. Jackson of Marks, Mississippi; Reverend Robert K. Minor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Willie Neely of Ellisville, Mississippi; Daniel Simmons of Picayune, Mississippi (Deceased); David Simmons of Picayune, Mississippi; Norman Smith of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; and Charles R. Thompkins of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, since the beginning of the Mu Xi Charter in 1976, there have been over 325 men initiated into the Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. These men are PhDs, NFL Players, Judges, Mayors, Fortune 500 Executives, Entrepreneurs, Theologians, Teachers, School Superintendents, IT Professionals, Coaches, Healthcare Professionals, Politicians, Safety Professionals and Engineers you see today. The impact they have transcends Mu Xi, and is felt around the world; and

WHEREAS, these men have truly embodied the Alpha Phi Alpha Motto, "First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All," and we commend the dedicated community service and example set by these Mississippi citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the 45th Anniversary of the founding of the Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi, and extend to this exemplary service organization our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for appropriate distribution and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.